Toys

We have a ton of fun toys for the twins, but they honestly will play with anything. They really like all the catalogues we've been getting in the mail lately. They flip through them and then rip them apart, great fun for babies!

When my Mom was over last weekend she gave them the box that held her mint tea (tea bags removed). Connor thought it was the best toy Ever.

Halloween Card

A few days ago Aunt Jamie and Uncle Brian sent the twins each their own Halloween cards. Connor's also had a small folded card with a note on it. He held that card like he was reading it and played with it all evening.

They get so excited and I love it!

Additionally, they've figured out when we're taking pictures and here Connor is smiling for Carl as he takes his picture. What a ham!

Out in the Yard

A few weekends ago we grilled out and sat in backyard to enjoy the nice weather. The twins hung out in the jumpy chairs for a bit, but they wanted to get out and explore too.

Connor likes to crawl around in the grass, but you really have to watch him because he'll put anything in his mouth. Grass, rocks and with Leo out there with him, who knows what the two of them will find to put in their mouths.

Chloe likes being outside, but since I didn't put her socks on she thought the grass felt strange. She kept holding up one foot off the grass.

We'll enjoy the weather and the outdoors as long as we can. Then we'll break out our cute winter wear.

Sleepy Time

We are pretty lucky with the twins when it comes to sleep. They usually go to bed right around 8 p.m. if not a little earlier and sleep until 7 a.m. or sometimes even a little later. They've been great about sleeping through the night, although every now and then Connor will wake up crying. He usually only wakes up about once in a three week time period and if you give him his pacifier he gets back to sleep pretty quickly. Chloe always sleeps through the night.

Last night, however, we heard a baby crying and this time it Chloe. Since she never does this I was worried she was sick or something. She didn't have a fever or anything so I just rocked her and after a minute she was back asleep. That was around 3:15 a.m. and Connor slept right through it.

But at 5:20 a.m. Connor woke up crying himself. I got him settled back down, but it's a rough night to get up twice.

This morning Chloe got up a little after 7 a.m., but she still looked a little sleepy. Hopefully she can get a couple of good naps today. I wish I could get a couple of good naps in too!

Hugs and Kisses

The twins are starting to play together more and interact together more in general. If Chloe gets upset, Connor wants to give her a hug and kiss and try to make her feel better. However, sometimes he makes her cry more.

It's hard being a brother or it's hard being that brother's sister.

Winter Hats

When we go shopping with the babies an opportunity to buy something adorable, but maybe not really needed, crops up. Recently we were at the Gap, and even though we don't really get a winter here in Dallas we had to have winter hats for both Connor and Chloe.

In Honor of Maxwell Gutzler-Swan

I am very sad to share that we had to put Maxwell to sleep last night. Last Friday evening Max was having trouble with his hind legs and getting around was really difficult. On Saturday Carl took Max to the Vet who thought he had a herniated disk and recommended we take him to the Veterinary Surgical Center. The Surgical Center kept him over the weekend and operated on him Monday to find he had a new herniated disk as well as an old one that had fused to his spine. He came through the surgery OK, but Tuesday he was getting so agitated that he couldn't move his hind legs it became difficult for him to breath and they had to put him on a breathing tube.

Because breathing was so difficult, the next step would be a surgery on his soft palette. Even after this, there was no guarantee he'd get movement in his back legs again and he'd have to stay for 4 to 6 weeks at the surgical center to see how he did. Max was agitated and suffering and we couldn't put him through another surgery.

There is a hole in my heart and we miss him terribly. Max was so sensitive, he would get up whenever I was restless at night and see what I was doing. The night I went into labor, when I thought I was just having cramps, Max followed me all over the house and then woke up Carl.

I'm even more emotional since it was a year ago today that my Dad passed away. The picture in my mind is of my Dad at the grill and Max standing next to him, looking up at Dad waiting for whatever grilled treat was headed his way.

Here are a few of my favorite pictures of Max

Max is a part of the family

New Jeans

I'm sorry I haven't been able to keep up with posts lately, but I do have a short but sweet one for today.

I bought Connor and Chloe new jeans and with the Fall weather they could finally wear them. I got a couple of shots of them in the yard and playing together. Soon it will be cool enough to pair them with the cool jean jackets Aunt KiKi and Uncle Martin got them for their birthday.

Riding Toys

For their birthday, Connor and Chloe got ride on toddler toys. The babies sit on it, hold the handle bars and they're suppose to move their feet to move them forward.

I came home the other day when Connor was playing with his. This kid has the system figured out. He was sitting on his rider with his feet propped up while Maria pushed him all over the house. Why work your chunky little feet if you can get pushed all around on a strolling tour?

Like with most toys we have, there's one for Chloe and another for Connor. As a usual course of habit, even though Connor has and is playing with his own toy, for some reason Chloe's toy always looks more attractive and he usually tries to take her toy too.